Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you happiness, kindness, and gratitude!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Lefse Legacy

In the DillyDally family ... Thanksgiving is not about the turkey ... Christmas is not about the cookies ... the Holidays are all about the lefse!  The same was true for both Mr. DD and my childhood as well!

This was the second year that Brother and Girlfriend were here to participate ... so much more fun with them involved ... plus, it lightens the work load!  Lefse takes the entire day ... makes a huge mess ... but is absolutely worth it!

A mountain of lefse is a beautiful sight!  Ten pounds of potatoes + five pounds of flour + butter, cream, sugar and salt = five dozen lefse rounds!  Of course there was a bit of taste testing ... quality control is important as we do share it with others!

Such a feeling of satisfaction when packaging for the freezer ... childhood memories ... my grandmother and mother ... our children's childhood experiences with lefse ... and this year more memories were added to the family lefse legacy.  Traditional food ... it defines a culture and serves as a glue that help hold a family together.  So simple, yet so powerful!

Do what you love.  Celebrate tradition.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

007 Auction Items Revealed!

Our quilt guild's Annual Tea & Auction is an event I always look forward to!  It is how I begin the holiday season!

Girlfriend DD and I decorated a thanksgiving themed table ... this is her first year as a guild member ... last year she attended as a guest, but was quickly put to work!  Yep ... our guild knows how to recruit new members!  Makes me giggle!

It was only a year ago that GF sat at a sewing machine for the first time ... she has accomplished amazing projects since then.  She chose to make three items for the auction ... and spent time at my dining table working on them!

She made this sweet stuffed toy duck ... adorable!

These triangular bags are so useful ... and super cute!  She sews zippers like a pro!

She pieced and machine quilted this wall quilt / table topper too!  All three items did very well at auction ... and yep, the guild had her working the event again, putting her business skills to good use! I sew enjoyed the time we spent together preparing for the auction ... creating wonderful memories!

As usual, Flicka was in charge of my projects!  Here she is giving me that look ... "Do not disturb me, I am testing the Soft & Stable batting."

While in Oregon this summer, I picked up a whimsical Fairy panel!  Had no idea what I would do with it ... after I divided it up into sections, it finally spoke to me.

I decided to make it into a large quilting bag.  The panels were long and narrow ... found some fabric that matched the colors in the panels ... and created dimensions that made a bag possible!  Here a Quilt Fairy balances on a spool of thread.

On the other side ... a Fairy is sitting on a sewing machine!  I actually had to think twice before donating this ... I love its whimsy!  It went to a terrific quilter ... a kindred spirit who appreciates Quilt Fairies! Perfect!

Next up ... a flipper!

It belongs to this sweet little seal!  Love that face!

She looked a bit naked, so we dressed her in a red ribbon!  Flicka taught her how to model!  She went to a sweet little girl who came up to me after the auction and told me that she had named her "Flower"!  So cute!  I just know in my heart that Flower will be well loved!

The final auction item was more time consuming ... Flicka entertained herself in multiple ways!  This yellow and very noisy plastic bag was a favorite way to hide and ambush me!  Always fun!

I used silk fabric and metallic thread on this project.  It was my attempt to add some sheen and sparkle!

The design is an attempt to capture the reflection of a full moon over water ... a common sight here in our remote corner of the planet!

Photo by Wendy A Ranney

It went home with the owners of the lodge where we host our auction.  She took this picture of it hanging in their home ... that just makes my heart happy!

I am so grateful ... to those who support our guild's efforts ... for the scholarships we sponsor ... to members who share their talents ... for my dillydally life here in the middle of nowhere!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Happy Take a Hike Day!

With a puppy, every day is "Take a Hike Day", but yesterday I discovered it was an official day!  If we can make a ordinary day a holiday ... I'm in!   It is how a DillyDally rolls!

Winter has arrived here in my remote corner of the planet.  The pups and I planned to hike at our favorite "off leash" spot.

We discovered that around four inches of snow had fallen since our last visit ... what fun!

Ah-oh ... Mrs. Moose and her little one had the same plans!  Fortunately I saw her before I had let the pups loose.  More people are harmed by moose every year than grizzly bears ... cows with calves are especially dangerous!  Yikes.  I turned the car around.

About a quarter of a mile ... look who shows up?  Yep ... Mr. Moose!  We are NOT going to attempt to share this hike with him either!  The puppies were confused ... they knew where we were ... and couldn't understand why I hadn't let them out of the vehicle.  I couldn't calm them down ... so I just started singing Christmas Carols!  It worked!  They stopped fussing ... I kept singing ... all while I put three miles between us and the moose.

I decided to let them out and walk on the main road where there was a bit of traffic.  Hoping that a few cars now and then had kept the wildlife far out in the woods!

The pups were so happy to get out and run!  Their first romp in soft, fluffy snow!

They are such fun ... puppy antics are powerful entertainment ... love these snow puppies!

We have been in a deep freeze ... 12 degrees yesterday on this walk ... 2 degrees this morning!  Very unusual this time of year for our remote corner of the planet.  But I am a four seasons kind of girl ... I love it!

Our days are short ... sunset began at 3:30 ...

... and set at 4:00.

"Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?  

In the lane, snow is glistening.

A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight,

Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland."

Do what you love.  Believe in the miracle of Christmas Carols!  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

An Outdoor and Indoor Snow Storm!

The magic happened at midnight ...

... I'm so happy we were still up when the first snowflakes hit the ground!  We let a bit accumulate on the front deck before introducing Nissa to snow for the first time!  She didn't know what to think ... she was hesitant to step on it ...

... then attempted to catch the flakes while they fell!  Too fun!  I posted a video on my instagram account if you would like to see her silliness in motion!  I know ... and willingly admit that we are those obnoxious puppy parents ... and I make no apologies! We unashamedly love our fur babies!  ;-)  Speaking of silly ... can't believe my geraniums are still blooming ... yep, life in DillyDallydom is crazy!

We weren't expecting the snow to linger ... so I was thrilled that it was still here this morning!  This photo was taken at 9:00 am.

Now that Jack Frost has arrived, Flicka spent the morning in her heated basket ...

... while Nissa pulled most of her favorite quilt off the chair and snuggled in.  My fur babies knew how to stay warm on our first cold winter morning!  So silly ... but resourceful!

I spent the rest of the morning out enjoying the weather with these smiling snow puppies!

They dove into the snow with a full force of puppy enthusiasm!  The day remained cold, so our very light dusting of snow lasted the entire day!  

Holiday music was playing this afternoon when a dillydally wind snowstorm hit!  Went to my yarn stash and started knitting!

Finished the prototype ... success!  Collected more yarn remnants and got busy!

The Supervisor was on task ... apparently everything needed close inspection!

Once Flicka's approval was given, I could move forward and continue knitting!  Love how she takes charge!  Yep ... another 007 project ... because I don't have enough already!  But I've learned ... when dillydally storms come not to hesitate ... like any type of storm, an immediate response is necessary!

It was a perfect dillydally day ... I am grateful!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

A Happy Monday!

We were gifted with a beautiful day ...

... which felt entirely miraculous considering the storm we fell asleep to last night!  

I threw out my "to do" list and decided to take the puppies out the road on an adventure!  It takes nearly half an hour to drive to my favorite spot where they can be off leash!

Lots of open space to run ... ponds to wade in ... and a clear view of any approaching wildlife!  I walk about 2.5 miles ... they probably travel three times that distance while running in every direction!

Here they are about halfway through our hike ... soaking wet ... and happy to sit for a puppy cookie!  They are a lot to handle now that they are bigger and stronger ... when together they forget all manners and training ... ;-) ... I lovingly refer to them as my furry knuckleheads!  They challenge my puppy wrangling skills, but it is such a joy to see them freely do what puppies do best ... play with unbridled enthusiasm!  Perfect dillydally behavior!

While driving back to town ... I counted 84 eagles along a two mile stretch of the road!  Obviously there must be an excellent food source nearby!  Amazing

I arrived home around noon with two very tired and happy pups!  It was great to begin the week surrounded by their energy and comical antics!  Our hearts are full and happy!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally & the Furry Knuckleheads